Previous descriptions of Clostridium difficile colitis (CDC) epidemics may overestimate cost and mortality of CDC. An analysis of the 2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample was performed. Patients with CDC (N = 41,207) were compared to a propensity score-matched cohort of patients without CDC. Average length of stay was longer for CDC patients by 5 days (p < 0.001). Mortality was higher for the CDC cohort (9.4% vs. 8.6%; p < 0.001) though the absolute difference was small. Mean hospital costs were 56… CONTINUE READING